Steer bar construction



April 4, 1950 G. E. KERSHAW 2,502,625

STEERBAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1949 ILLEWUL I1E=E 7 Mb Jlmfi m n-u l4 1 ll :3

INVENTOR. Geoaae E. KERSHAW Patented Apr. 4, 1950 OFFICE STEER BARCONSTRUCTION George E. Kershaw, Goldwater, Mich, assignor to PrattManufacturing Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February 24,1949, Serial No. 78,147

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a steerbar con struction for a coastingsled and more particularly to such a steerbar construction whichprovides an unbroken top surface.

steerbar constructions in use on coasting sleds at the present timefrequently employ a link comprising a pair of metal straps or barsextending one over and one under the center of the steerbar andconnected perpendicularly thereto. The top strap breaks the top surfaceof the steerbar and provides a hazard to users who, in the customarymanner, run with the sled and then drop on it as they throw it to theground. The metal strap and any protruding screws, rivets or bolts areso located that they may readily cut or bruise the chin or face of theuser.

Some attempts have been made to eliminate this difliculty by connectingthe link bar or strap only to the bottom of the steerbar and eliminatingthe top strap. Screws have been mainly used as the attaching means. Thissingle strap construction provides a construction which is notsufliciently sturdy to withstand the use to which sleds are put.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to providea steerbar construction utilizing a pair of spaced steering straps andwhich has a smooth unbroken top surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a steerbarconstruction which is both sturdy and simple.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a steerbar and link embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the steerbar construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in thedirection of the arrows, Fi 2.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe pur pose of description and not of limitation.

The steerbar construction of the present invention includes the steerbarm which is provided with holes ll adapted to receive a towing orsteering line. The steerbar ill is also provided with a slot I 2 whichis slightly larger than the strap 13 which is adapted to fittherethrough. A second strap I4 is disposed beneath the steerbar It.Holes are provided in the straps l3 Comp any, Goldwater,

and M and in the lower part of the steerbar l0 and are aligned in theassembled position to accommodate the rivets I 5.

The rivets are inserted and exploded on the inside of the slot IE toform the inner heads. The exploded rivets provide a joint which issturdy and which will stand hard usage. The method of using explosiverivets is well known and a description of such method is not deemednecessary in connection with this application.

Holes It and ll are provided in the strap 13, and holes I 8 and Ill areprovided in the strap M. Holes it and Hi are aligned and holes l1 and itare aligned when the straps i3 and II are affixed in position to thesteerbar Hi. This construction provides means for pivotally attachingeach end of th link formed by the straps i3 and M to conventionalsteering constructions.

A particular advantage of the steerbar construction of the presentinvention is that by having the top bar of the link concealed within thesteerbar at its point of attachment, the top surface of the steerbar isleft clear. In addi tion to eliminating a dangerous hazard. this permitsornamentation or decoration to be placed thereon. Decaloomanias whichconsist of the name or initials of the seller or user may be placed onthe plain top surface. Thus the sleds become personalized merchandise.This is a definite and valuable selling feature.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A steerbar construction for a coasting sled including a steerbarmember having a slot extending laterally therethrough, a rigid strapdisposed through said slot, a second rigid strap disposed on the bottomof said steerbar member and vertically aligned with the first mentionedstrap, and means for fastening said straps and said steerbar member infixed relation.

2. A steerbar construction as claimed in claim 1 and furthercharacterized in that vertically aligned holes are provided on each endof the rigid straps in order that the said steerbar construction may bepivotally attached to a conventional steering construction.

3. A steerbar construction as claimed in claim 1 and furthercharacterized in that the fastening means comprises exploded rivetswhich extend through the bottom strap, the steerbar and the upper strapand which are provided with exploded heads within said steerbar slot.

4. A steerbar construction for coasting sleds which includes in fixedrelation, 2. steerbar member having smooth top surface, and a linkcomprising an upper rigid strap extending laterally through the saidsteerbar member and a lower rigid strap located against the bottom ofsaid steerbar member and. vertically aligned with the said upper metalstrap.

GEORGE E. KERSHAW.

No references cited.

